Borewells suck Delhi future dry

With nearly five lakh illegal borewells sucking up Delhi's ground water, the water table has fallen to alarming 214 feet below ground level in the southern ridge. To worsen the situation, authorities have only managed to register 169 cases against owners of illegal borewells.

With nearly five lakh illegal borewells sucking up Delhi's ground water, the water table has fallen to alarming 214 feet below ground level in the southern ridge. To worsen the situation, authorities have only managed to register 169 cases against owners of illegal borewells.

The illegal borewells are fast depleting water table of the Capital, which is already reeling under crisis.

According to the data compiled by the Central Ground Water Board, fresh groundwater was available at just a little below 20 feet in 1977. But the water level has fallen down by more than 10 times since then in Delhi. Data compiled by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the Ministry of Water Resources show that the water level is depleting rapidly in Delhi. The groundwater table spread over 1,484 square km has declined between 2 metre and 20 metre.

The worst-hit areas include most of South Delhi and parts of South West Delhi, covering over 264 square km, where the water table has dropped by as much as 10 metre to 20 metre over the last 10 years. An RTI query filed by Delhibased social activist Rajhans Bansal revealed that there are close to 4.65 lakh illegally operational borewells functioning in the city and its adjoining area.

People have no option but to shell out extra bucks on buying water from tankers.

Official authorities of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) revealed that a thorough inspection in areas where these illegal borewells are dug is impossible to survey and crack down.

"Areas like Munirka, Khanpur, Tigri and Deoli Gaon are densely populated...Moreover, we can't just barge into homes to inspect whether or not they are using illegal borewells," a senior DJB official told MAIL TODAY.

Additional Secretary, Environment, Sandeep Mishra stressed the problem is commercial exploitation of ground water. "We don't have an issue with residents who extract water only for drinking, since DJB water is not available in some areas of the city," the Delhi government official said.

In March this year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had indicted senior DJB and DPCC officials following a report submitted by the Delhi government on the issue of illegal use of ground water by borewells. Last year, the NGT had set up a panel to collate data of all illegal and permissible borewells in National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The green tribunal had also formed the panel to ensure that those found illegally extracting ground water are prosecuted and water meters fixed on borewells. PRINCIPAL Secretary (Revenue) Dharam Pal admitted that the main factor responsible for the depletion of ground water is illegal borewells. "All the deputy commissioners through their SDMs and other field staff have been directed to carry out regular inspections to identify the illegal borewells existing in their area," the top official said.

"The DCs of all the districts have carried out sealing drives against illegal borewells. The revenue department recently issued a notification making registration mandatory for all drilling machinery operators and tube well operators in the national capital with the Delhi Jal Board," he added.

The principal secretary also said a notification issued by the Delhi government makes it mandatory for all owners to disclose details wells and borewells installed within their premises. Pal added that as per the directions, all the deputy commissioners have been carrying out regular inspection of drains in their area.

NO END IN SIGHT TO CAPITAL'S WATER PROBLEMS

Delhiites in certain areas are still struggling to get their quota of water. But the Delhi Jal Board maintains that adequate measures have been taken to improve water delivery in these critical areas.

"The old pipelines have been replaced and we have ensured minimum leakage of water that would lead to wastage," a DJB official said. "We have also recorded highest number of water tanker trips this summer, which was a result of efficiency in the system, close monitoring and the GPS that has been installed in the new tankers."

"All the plants are working fine and supplying enough water in the city. There is nothing to be worried about. As for the miscreants who are illegally digging for borewell, they are being booked and punished," the DJB official added.

R.K. Anand, a resident of East of Kailash, said the water supply has not improved in his locality.

"We usually get water supply in the evenings as well. But for last three days, it comes for barely half an hour in the morning and that is not enough to meet our daily needs," Anand said.

In CR Park's E Block, Ashim Mukherji said private tankers were providing them water at a hefty rate. "I have reported the matter numerous times both at the GK-II and Saddiq Nagar DJB offices, but it has not been fixed," he added.

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